Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

665 | Tying Steelhead and Pacific Salmon Flies with Jonathan Farmer – Chasing Chrome, Alaska, Fly Tying

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Episode notes

Presented By: Drifthook Fly Fishing, Angler's Coffee, Togiak River Lodge, Yellowstone Teton Territory

Jonathan Farmer, steelhead fly tying guru and author of Chasing Chrome: Tying Steelhead and Pacific Salmon Flies is here to take us into his world of Alaska and steelhead fishing.

We’ll hear the stories behind flies like the Graboid, Led Zep Prawn, and Mini Me, plus why Jonathan’s shifting to more natural patterns and how he picks his colors.

Jonathan ties some of the cleanest flies you’ll ever see. He’s been putting in 40 to 70 hours a week for over 10 years! Find out why so many people are looking him up and how his book is packed with tips to help you understand fly design.

Ready to pick up some tricks from a pro? Grab a notepad. You’re going to want to jot these down!

Show Notes with Jonathan Farmer on Tying Steelhead and Pacific Salmon Flies. 11:17 – Fly fishing started for Jonathan when he was just 17 during a backcountry camp in Colorado. He started with conventional fishing and even joined tournaments in Texas. He worked on sport fishing yachts in South Florida before moving to Alaska, where he got into fly fishing.

12:14 – Jonathan shares that each season in Alaska offers unique opportunities. In spring, he loves stone fly fishing on the Kenai. Summer brings great dry fly action and swinging wet flies. By fall, fish target spawning sockeye.

Steelhead and Pacific Salmon Flies

Chasing Chrome: Tying Steelhead and Pacific Salmon Flies 21:20 – Jonathan talks about how he always wanted to write a fishing book. A few years ago, he started jotting down thoughts but put them aside. He teamed up with Mike at Mossy’s Fly Shop for help with photos.

24:18 – The book features Jonathan’s favorite steelhead and Pacific salmon flies, complete with step-by-step instructions. He says the book wouldn’t be what it is without Marty Howard’s input on its layout and design.

Marty also co-wrote the book Steelhead Fly Tying Art and Design with Dec Hogan. Check out our episode with Dec Hogan here! Steelhead and Pacific Salmon Flies

The Book’s Creation 30:37 – Jonathan said the toughest part of writing his book was the editing process. He followed Marty’s advice and printed three copies for friends to review.

Visit Jonathan’s website or Instagram to grab your copy of his book. You can also get a signed copy, which comes with three flies from the book!

34:07 – The book covers fly-tying techniques and color choices. Jonathan mentioned that while some flies, like the Led Zep Prawn, are super fun to tie, they can be complex. He enjoys having a fly box just to admire the cool designs, even if he doesn’t fish with all of them all the time.

Watch this video of Jonathan tying the Led Zep Prawn on Youtube:

The Challenge of Naming Flies 36:08 – There are 21 unique flies in the book that Jonathan created himself. He said that designing flies is probably easier than naming them. “The Graboid,” was named by a friend without even knowing it.

Many of his flies have music-themed names, like “Sure Shot,” inspired by the Beastie Boys, and “Crown Jewel,” from Brother Ali. He even has a tube fly named “Zoomer,” which was created during a Zoom course.

Finding the Perfect Steelhead Fly Proportions 52:29 – Jonathan has been tying flies for nearly a decade and puts in a serious amount of hours—sometimes 70 a week!

53:26 – We dive into how to balance materials when tying the perfect steelhead fly. It’s all about finding the right proportions—not too sparse, but not overly bulky either. If a fly feels too full, he advises creating a channel to slim it down.

Jonathan reminds us that even experienced tiers sometimes end up with flies that are a bit bulkier than intended, and it’s okay to make adjustments.

55:39 – Bulky flies don’t move or breathe well in the water, which affects how they mimic bait. A fly that casts poorly or looks stiff in the water won’t attract fish.

Jonathan uses a tank in his office to test the movement of his flies. If it doesn’t swim or breathe right after a few hours, it’s a no-go for him, and he tosses it.

The Mini-Me Graboid Jonathan shares the story of the Mini-Me fly. The Mini Me uses pine squirrel instead of rabbit, making it a smaller, more versatile fly. Jonathan uses it for steelhead, coho, and trout, especially in colors like black and red or black and blue.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/665